Bacterial Reproduction

By: Rahul Malik

January, 2016

Reproduction
When conditions are favourable bacteria
can reproduce every 20 minutes
In 48 hours a single bacterial cell could
become culture 4000 times the mass of
the earth
Thankfully the food supply is limited and
this does not happen

Reproduction types:
Binary Fission
Conjugation
Spore Formation

Binary Fission
When a cell has almost doubled in size it
will replicate its DNA and divide in half
This produces 2 identical daughter cells
Binary fission is a form of asexual
reproduction
Asexual reproduction does not invovle the
exchange of genetic material

Conjugation
Is a form of sexual reproduction
Genetic Information is exchanged between
individuals
A long bridge of proteins forms between
two bacterial cells
DNA is transferred from one cell (donor) to
another (recipient)

Spore Formation
Bacteria form spores during unfavourable
conditions
One type is called an endospore
Cell forms a thick internal wall the encloses its
DNA

Spores can remain dormant for months

until conditions improve